Vivian Smith /
2020 – An Evolution
2/1/2021
01 - About the Artist
Vivian Smith is a 3rd year AUArts student living in Mohkinstsis/ Calgary. She works primarily in ceramics and painting with an emphasis on form and colour. Her current practice and research are focused on the influence of society on identity. Vivian was the recipient of the 2020 AUArts Scholarship for Research Projects and Dr. J.C. Sproule Memorial Scholarship.
My work is focused on how the older woman views herself and how she fits into society. Older women are often overlooked and not included in mainstream discourse. This can lead to feelings of invisibility and irrelevance. The older woman has years of experience and wisdom to share and is much more complex than the tropes of mother, controlling partner, or “woman in the refrigerator”. I explore the experience of the older woman through ceramics, but without access to a ceramic studio due to COVID-19, I have transitioned to painting. Starting with the body, I challenge simplified depictions of older woman by emphasizing their experienced reality.
02 - About the Work
2020 - An Evolution is a series of self-portraits completed during the first half of 2020. At the beginning of the year, I was excited to study abroad for a semester as part of the AUArts Exchange and Study Abroad program. When the shutdowns began, I experienced worry and anxiety that eventually gave way to feelings of isolation and resignation as I began to interact with the world in gloves and masks or on-line. It is all here, evident in the expressions on the canvas. My experience of 2020 is not unique. Many have gone through the same emotions and turmoil. 2020 was a hard year that we will not soon forget.
The name of each painting corresponds to the day it was completed. For this collection of self-portraits, I chose to use oils and pencil on 8.5”X12” oil paper. I consistently flattened and minimized hair and clothing details while delving into sensitive and subtle facial details. By focusing on colour and filling the picture frame primarily with the face, I hope to communicate an almost universal experience during the first half of 2020
January, 20, 2020
February, 10, 2020
February, 23, 2020
March, 17, 2020
March, 25, 2020
April, 12, 2020
May, 20, 2020
May, 31, 2020
June, 8, 2020
June, 2, 2020
June, 21, 2020